TORE UP:Corey Webster had eight tackles in the Giants’ humiliating 33-14 loss to the Ravens last night, but he couldn’t stop Torrey Smith from scoring a touchdown during the first half. (Getty Images)
BALTIMORE — There are games individuals want to forget, purge from the memory as quickly as humanly possible with no word spoken about it again by friend or foe.
And then there was the game endured by Giants cornerback Corey Webster at M&T Stadium against the Ravens yesterday. It was even worse.
“He would probably be the first one to tell you that he wishes he was better,” coach Tom Coughlin said.
Actually, Webster was about as chatty as a mime. Beaten repeatedly for big plays and called for a drive-sustaining pass interference in the Ravens’ 33-14 wipeout victory, the Giants’ longest-tenured, highest paid member of the secondary, had little to say in his defense — or about his defense.
“It’s football. That’s what they call it, it’s football,” said Webster when asked if he felt especially picked on by Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and an assortment of receivers who helped Baltimore rack up a season-high 533 yards.
Webster was awful, but really so were all the Giants.
“It’s a loss. We can’t do nothing about it,” Webster said. “We knew what was at stake. We knew what was on the line and we didn’t come out and answer the bell.”
Webster became Flacco’s personal punching bag, it seemed. Webster jumped into Giant fans’ consciousness when he was victimized on Baltimore’s first touchdown, a 6-yarder from Flacco to wide receiver Torrey Smith on a third and goal. Ravens, 7-0.
The horror was far from over.
Another lowlight for Webster as an inconsistent season continued was when Smith beat him on a stop-and-go move down the right side in the first quarter, resulting in a 43-yard gain to the Giants’ one. Flacco went in for the touchdown two plays later. Ravens, 14-0.
Webster caught one break, in the second quarter on a first-and-goal from the nine. He was beaten by Jacoby Jones, who extended over the goal line for an apparent touchdown. The play, however, was reviewed and reversed.
You know it’s not a great day when your highlight is getting beaten for a touchdown that really isn’t a touchdown.
But like a late night infomercial: Wait there’s more.
Webster was called for pass interference, again while trying to cover Smith, on a third-and-seven in the third quarter. That play sustained a Ravens drive and led to a field goal. Ravens, 27-7.
Even before that field goal, Webster was a part of the Ravens’ drive. On a third-and-19 from the Baltimore 37, Webster went against tight end Dennis Pitta. Webster dove, trying for a deflection. He missed. Pitta didn’t, making the reception at the Giants 27 while falling down for a 36-yard gain.
“Same thing I tell myself, same thing I tell anyone else, ‘Fight on, forget it and drive on,’ ” Giants safety Antrel Rolle said when asked what he would tell Webster. “Corey’s a great player, Corey’s always been a great player for us, it seemed like they were targeting him and targeting him. He made some plays, some plays he wasn’t able to make. You’re going to have games like that.”